Following a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
The other affected parties are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The order to deregister the parties was given by Justice Peter Lifu following a suit filed by the group which had asked the court to determine whether INEC is required by the Constitution to remove political parties that fail to meet the minimum electoral performance requirements stated in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
According to the former lawmakers, the five parties failed to meet the constitutional conditions needed to keep their registration.
They explained that political parties are expected to win at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or secure at least one elective position at the federal, state, or local government level.
The plaintiffs argued that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections. They said the parties failed to win seats at important levels of government.
The group told the court that allowing the parties to remain registered undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
They asked the court to declare that INEC has a duty to deregister parties that do not meet the required standards. They also urged the electoral body to carry out the deregistration before preparations for the 2027 general elections gather pace.
In addition, the plaintiffs sought an order stopping the affected parties from taking part in elections, campaigns, rallies, and primary elections. They also asked the court to prevent INEC from dealing with the parties in any official capacity unless they fully comply with constitutional requirements.
The judgment could have major political consequences ahead of the 2027 elections, as it may affect the chances of candidates of the affected parties, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, if they plan to contest under any of the parties involved.
